Hotel Saratoga

By Frank Buyak

Its the summer of 1973, and Detective Dick Morrison and his sidekick, bail-bondsman Studs Malone, are hot on the trail of a bank robber currently believed to be hiding out in the popular resort town of Saratoga Springs, New York. Their clever prey leads the bumbling duo on a merry chase, managing to keep one step ahead while romancing a local glamour girl and keeping his identity a secret. This slyly humorous crime caper will keep you chuckling as you follow the characters run circles around one another and the law. If youre a fan of Abbott and Costello, or the hapless Inspector Clouseau of Pink Panther fame, youre sure to enjoy this fast-paced read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514484906

Frank Buyak

This is the first novel from Frank Buyak (buy ak ), who has authored many technical papers and has an extensive background in writing for business and industry. His professional work brought him to Washington, DC, Germany, and England, where he received recognition for his work. He is currently retired and living in Connecticut. The author, his older brother, and his mother were actually on the Aquatania making the crossing as described in the book. The author’s mother was unable to book passage on the Athenia because of overbooking. Mrs. Buyak and her family waited in Glasgow for passage on the Aquatania. While the author and his family were at sea on the Aquatania, the house where they stayed at, #3 Dale Street in Glasgow, was bombed, killing all who lived there. A special thanks to the author’s mother, Mary Buyak, who had the courage to bring her young family home, across the Atlantic, during the Second World War.

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Hotel Saratoga

Frank Buyak

Copyright

© 2016 by Frank Buyak.

Library of Congress Control Number:      2016906009

ISBN:                 Hardcover                      978-1-5144-8492-0

                           Softcover                        978-1-5144-8491-3

                           eBook                             978-1-5144-8490-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 04/15/2016

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

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Contents

Acknowledgements

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Sharon Ryan was instrumental in naming the characters and providing guidance as to how they would appear in the fashion heyday of 1973.

David Buyak, is responsible for the artwork on the cover; he also did the cover for Passport to Deception. His wife, Jacqueline, an avid reader and teacher, provided valuable input along the journey of this novel.

Special thanks to my writer’s groups in New Hartford and Salisbury, Connecticut that helped chapter by chapter. Their patience and skills are appreciated.

Cindy Knoebel used her skills as a communications professional to edit this book and bring it to a higher standard. She has run writing workshops in both Connecticut and California.

Lastly, I want to thank my cousin Eleanor, who told me that her father, and avid reader, only read detective novels. That is the reason I wrote this book.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my daughter Heidi and my son Thomas, each making their way through this life in their own way, making a positive difference in the lives that they touch.

With them go my best wishes and everlasting love.

Prologue

Richard Morrison, a private detective of little note, is assigned to a case that is rather easy. He is accompanied by the nephew of the bail bondsman that lost his money as a result of the flight of one Bret Parker. What can go wrong will go wrong.

Morrison, more than impressed with his status as a private detective is saddled with a goofy looking incompetent assistant that he did not choose. Forced to work together, they almost have success several times. Being out-classed by the fugitive makes this story come alive with humor and real detective work.

Chapter 1

It was June 2nd, 1973. The day was unusually hot and by 3:10 in the afternoon the temperature had soared into the nineties. From his position at the front desk Alex looked up from his novel and observed two men approaching the hotel’s front entrance. He watched as they came up the stairs and noted what they were wearing. He frowned. It was far too hot to be dressed in business suits and felt hats. For sure these two characters were not tourists. The first thought that entered his mind was cops.

Alex Kinsale, a recent honors graduate of the Cornell School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, is one month into his new job at the Hotel Saratoga. He hopes one day to manage a major hotel in New York City. An avid reader, he passes the time between guest check-ins and check-outs reading detective and historical novels, his favorite being Passport to Deception.

The Hotel Saratoga is situated on Broadway, the main street of Saratoga Springs, New York. It was built during the gilded age of the late 1800’s when the town became popular as a summer resort. Over the years, the Saratoga has been modernized with a central elevator and new electrical and mechanical systems. But its charm and decor have been painstakingly preserved to remind guests of times past.

Once the two men entered the hotel, they did not immediately approach the front desk; instead, they stood just inside the foyer and carefully observed each person in the lobby. This delay gave Alex some additional time to study their appearance and prepare himself for an encounter that would probably make for an interesting day.

The shorter of the two men was wearing a hat with a larger than normal brim pulled down low over his forehead. His dark blue suit was poorly fitted and too large for his frame. The material featured wide white stripes that, to Alex’s thinking, were too bold to be in good taste. A bulge was clearly visible under left arm of the man’s jacket. From his detective novels Alex guessed it was either a flask or a heater.

The taller one was wearing a light gray suit jacket and the type of narrow-brimmed cloth hat often associated with used car salesmen. With long light brown hair flowing down to his collar, Alex thought he looked more like a clown than a businessman. His bell-bottom pants were powder blue, and obviously part of a leisure suit. Casual shoes with brown sides and a white panel top completed the look. The clash between the suit jacket and the bell-bottom pants put a grin on Alex’s face.

After a few moments, the tall one thumped the left arm of the short one and without saying a word, thumbed toward the front desk. At this point Alex nodded to Sam, the young bellhop who was standing near the elevator, and mouthed the word front. Sam ambled over to the desk and stood facing the entrance.

Shorty was the first to speak. Reaching into the right side chest pocket in his jacket, he pulled out and waved his badge. I’m detective Morrison, he announced.

Wait, said Alex, I couldn’t read that badge. You flashed it too fast. Let me have a closer look.

A badge is a badge, said Morrison. What are you so touchy about?

Alex persisted, holding out his hand. Let me look at it again.

Reluctantly, Morrison handed him the badge in its leather wallet. The gold colored badge was inscribed with the word Official in large letters. And in smaller letters towards the bottom of the badge were these words: Citizen licensed to carry a concealed weapon.

Alex handed the badge back. Anyone can buy this badge from a gun shop. Who are you?

Without saying a word Morrison took out his wallet and produced a license from the state of New York verifying the fact that he, Dick Morrison, was indeed a private detective.

Alex turned to the tall one. And who are you? he asked.

Before Tall Boy could speak, Morrison said, He’s with me. He is a bail bondsman from White Plains.

Still looking at Tall Boy, Alex said, And your name is?

Morrison replied, He’s Studs Malone. With that Tall Boy, alias Studs, nodded in agreement.

Alex decided to get past the secret identity business and asked what he could do for them.

Morrison pulled a three-by-five black and white photograph out of his coat pocket and showed it to Alex. We’re looking for this man. Have you seen him?

Sam, the bellhop, leaned over and eyeballed the picture with Alex, then smiled knowingly. That smile did not go unobserved by Studs, who stared at Sam with a stone-faced expression.

I’ve never seen his man, Alex said. Why are you looking for him?

Before Morrison could answer, Studs tapped him on the shoulder and motioned him away from the desk. They huddled together for about three minutes; Alex was surprised to see that Studs could actually talk. As Alex observed the pair he noticed Morrison shaking his head NO through most of the conversation.

Sam leaned over the desk. I think the man in the picture is staying here in the hotel, he whispered to Alex.

Don’t volunteer any information until we know what he is wanted for, Alex replied. And even then, you and I will discuss the matter before telling them anything, OK?

You got it, Sam said.

When the two men came back to the desk, Alex changed his question a little and asked, What makes you think that the man you’re looking for is here?

Morrison replied, Because his car is parked in front of your hotel. His last known car was a white ’65 Chevy two door sedan with New York license plate JX 2498.

Ah, responded Alex. He got lucky. Parking is usually a problem along the main street, that is why our staff is required to park on the street behind the hotel.

Studs leaned over and whispered into Morrison’s ear, saying something that caused his partner to nod in agreement.

Let’s sit over there, Morrison said to Alex, pointing towards a corner table in the lobby, and I’ll explain the whole case so that you will understand how serious this situation is. We want this bellhop to listen as well.

Alex agreed and called over another bellhop, Jason, to cover the phones while he and Sam met with the detective and his sidekick.

After everyone was seated, Morrison began. The man we’re looking for is Bret Parker, but he has several aliases, among them Richard Backer, Ralph Houser and Earl Wagner. We are not sure which he is currently using.

Alex scratched his head. I am not familiar with any of those names, but then again I am not on duty 24-7. But we can check the register. If you have an extra copy of his picture I will leave it for the other front desk manager.

Morrison nodded. "Parker has been arrested on a charge of bank robbery and had secured a bond from Mr. Malone’s agency. He is not only a fugitive, but he also skipped bail, which was set at $25,000. Bank robbery is a federal offense,